Intensive Use Furniture

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a ligature proof wall mounted bed having a bed body molded of plastic or the like attached to a bed frame on a wall. The bed frame may comprise end supports having sloping surfaces attached to the wall by end plates. The sloping surfaces may extend up above the frame or down below the frame. The end supports may have molded outer shells adapted to receive the bed body in a ligature proof engagement. The frame may comprise support members extending normal to the wall to provide a support for the body. A mattress may be removably disposed on the bed body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to beds for use in intensive usefacilities and institutional settings such as hospitals, militaryhousing, prisons, jails, colleges, public transportation facilities,detention centers and psychiatric facilities. More particularly, thepresent invention comprises a wall mounted bed that is ligature proofwith no pinch points and may securely support a mattress thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modular furniture such as beds have traditionally been attached to afloor in sleeping rooms to prevent the bed from being moved. Facilitieshaving large quantities of people who may have special needs usefurniture designed for intensive use for safely and durability.Assembled furniture may present certain hazards in use in intensive usesettings where furniture components and fasteners may be removed andturned into weapons. Plastic and fiberglass construction has replacedwood and metal by its ability to be formed into three-dimensional shapeswithout external fasteners. Fiberglass and plastic is generally moreaesthetically appealing than steel or wood, and more resistant todamage.

Beds in such settings are generally the biggest item in the room takingup large areas of floor space. The room must be configured to be largeenough to accommodate the bed and allow the user to move about in theroom, especially if the user is restricted to the room for long periodsof time. Intensive use beds may be ballasted or bolted directly to thefloor to reduce rearranging, tipping or moving. Securing or ballastingthe bed to the floor reduces the safety concerns on both the visitorsand staff and may result in a safer environment.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a wall mounted bed that isligature proof and will support the user on a mattress. The bed may bemolded of plastic having a single piece molded base for attaching to awall for supporting a mattress.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention is directed to a wallmounted bed having a wall plate attached to a wall. A bed end piece onthe wall plate may extend perpendicularly from the wall to support amattress in a generally horizontal position. A ladder adapted to allow auser to climb onto the bed may be attached to the bed or the adjacentwall. The bed frame may be a flat pan, a skeletal frame or opposingbrackets attached to the wall back. The bed on the frame is molded ofplastic having integrally molded tubular frame work for attaching to thebed frame. Tamper resistant fasteners are disposed through fastenerholes in frame and bed to hold the frame to the wall and the bed to theframe. A mattress may be disposed on top of the bed to provide acushioned sleep surface. The mattress may be a intensive use mattressformed of plastic and having an enclosed center with vent to allow airrelease.

The rigid bed frame may be formed by structural members attached to andextending from the wall for supporting the bed body. The bed body may bea rotomolded hollow bed body having steel support members insert moldedtherein. The bed body may be adapted to attach to the frame or directlyto the wall. Accessories such as storage boxes or restraints may beattached to the bed body or the bed frame. In a one piece configurationhaving a wall mount on the wall side and a mattress retainer on theoutside, the bed frame is attached to the wall having the bed bodysupported thereon. In the event the ligature proof wall mounted bed ismounted in a corner having two adjacent walls, a bed support may be usedto support the first end of the bed body while the integral steelsupport member may be attached directly to the second wall or to a wallplate on the second wall.

The above description sets forth, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the present invention so that the detailed description ofthe preferred embodiment that follows may be better understood andcontributions of the present invention to the art may be betterappreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the inventionthat will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims.In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment ofthe invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited in its application to the details of the construction and tothe arrangement of the components set forth in the following descriptionor as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of a wallmounted bed.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of a wallmounted bed.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the first embodiment of a wallmounted bed from FIG. 1, with an alternate ladder arrangement.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a third embodiment of a wallmounted bed.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of a wall mounted bedattached to the second wall bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a fourth embodiment of a wallmounted bed.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top right perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a wallmounted bed.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 8 havingligature resistant covers.

FIG. 10 is a top right perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a wallmounted bed.

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a top right perspective view of a seventh embodiment of awall mounted bed.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the seventh embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a top right perspective view of a third alternate ladderarrangement.

FIG. 15 is a side view of an eighth embodiment of a wall mounted bed.

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a ninth embodiment of a wall mountedbed.

FIG. 17 is a front elevation view of the ninth embodiment of a wallmounted bed of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of the ninth embodiment of a wallmounted bed of FIG. 16 showing a spacer between levels.

FIG. 19 is perspective view of a first embodiment of the bed body.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the bed body ofFIG. 20.

FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of the bed body ofFIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the first embodiment of the bed body of FIG.20.

FIG. 23 is an end view of the first embodiment of the bed body of FIG.20.

FIG. 24 is a detail perspective view of the first embodiment of the bedbody of FIG. 20.

FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of thebed body.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the bed body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specificembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the present invention comprises a anti-ligaturewall mounted bed 10 having a molded body 12 and a wall mounted frame 15.Molded body 12 may have a top 14, a first end 16 and second end 17.First end 16 may be attached to a first trapezoid bracket 18. Second end17 may be attached to a second trapezoid bracket 20. Second trapezoidbracket 20 may be attached to second end 17. First trapezoid bracket 18and a second trapezoid bracket 20 each have a wall edge 38, a generallyhorizontal top edge 34, an outside edge 40 and an angled support edge27. Wall edge 38 comprises fastener holes 32 for attaching firsttrapezoid bracket 18 and a second trapezoid bracket 20 to wall 22.Ladder 24 a may comprise rounded top ligature proof frame 26 a andclosed steps 28. First trapezoid bracket 18 and a second trapezoidbracket 20 are molded to integrally engage bed body 12 to eliminatepinch points and ligature holds.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1-5, a manufactured ladder 42 having aligature proof frame 26 b may be attached to wall 22 or bed 10 toeliminate pinch points and ligature holds. Ladder 42 may be formed ofplastic having closed steps. First trapezoid bracket 18 and a secondtrapezoid bracket 20 may be reversed supporting bed body 12 withgenerally horizontal surface 34 bearing against bed body 12. Slopedsupport edge 28 may be disposed above body 12 to thereby eliminate pinchpoints and ligature holds. Frame 15 may comprise T-support 44 comprisinga wall plate 46 on wall 22. First bed support 48 a extends generallyperpendicular to wall 22 to engage bed 12 at first end 16. First bedsupport 48 a may have first end 50 on wall plate 46 and second end 52spaced from first end 50. First bed support 48 may be attached to firstend 16. Second bed support 48 b may be attached to second end 17. Alcoveladder 54 may be integrally molded or manufactured of wood or metalhaving integral steps and adapted to be attached to bed 12. Secondsupport 20 may attach to frame members 74 disposed in bed body 12.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the fourth embodiment comprises wall mountedbed 60 having an arched wall plate 62 attached to wall 22 with top tab64 disposed above bed body 12 and extending below bed body 12 to archsupport 66 attached with screws 68 to wall 22. Arch support 66 comprisessupport arch 70 extending from bottom of wall plate 62 to bed bottom 80.Arch support 66 may have bed surface 75 attached to bed body 12. Bedsurface 75 is generally horizontal. Bed body 12 may have integral frame74 of metal or plastic adapted to attach to arch support 66. Integralframe 74 may be insert molded in bed body 12 or inserted in moldedopenings in molded bed body 12.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 beam support 84 may comprise molded sidepanels 88, 90 adapted for attachment to wall 22. Bed pan 86 may extendbetween molded side panels 88, 90 Bed pan 86 may be molded of plastic orformed of metal or other plank like material. Molded side panels areadapted to engage bed pan 86 or bed 12 by a indentation 132 receivingeach of a first or second end 94, 96 to prevent ligature holds or pinchpoints. A beam 98 extends between side panels 88, 90 to hold side panels88, 90 in spaced relation and support bed pan 86. Molded side panels 88,90 may have sloped top surfaces 89, 91 respectively to prevent ligatureholds

Referring to FIGS. 10-13, bed support 100 may comprise top tab 102adapted to be attached to wall 22. end supports 108, 109 may be attachedto optional interconnecting wall edge support 104 and front edge support106 forming an open rectangle adapted to receive bed 12 (not shown)thereon. End supports 108 each have top 110 disposed in a generallyhorizontal manner with angular support side 112 extending from wall 22to proximate front edge support 106. Wall edge support 104 may havescrew holes adapted to receive fasteners for attachment of bed support100 to wall 22. Wall panel 122 may extend between end supports 128 andwall edge support 104. Fastener holes 114 may be adapted to attach bedsupport 100 to wall 22. T-support 144 may comprise a wall plate 146adapted to attach to wall 22 with U-shaped bed support 140 disposed in agenerally horizontal orientation extending therefrom. U shaped bedsupport 140 may comprise front support 146 attached to foot support 147and head support 148 to form a rectangular three sided box type framehaving bed body mounted on top of U-shaped bed support 140.

Referring to FIG. 14, wall mounted bed support with integrated ladder156 may comprise a molded end support 158 having closed steps 160integrally molded therein. A tapering arch 162 may be disposed betweenwall 22 and front cross member 126. Top ladder tab 164 is disposed abovebed frame 16 and adapted for attachment to wall 22.

Referring to FIG. 15, hanging wall mount frame 196 may comprise tophanging support 198 and lower hanging support 200. Bed retainer 190 isdisposed at adjacent the outside of bed 12. Top hanging support may havebottom rest 208 adapted to engage and bear against top rest 210 on lowerhanging support 200.

Referring to FIG. 16-18, stack-able wall mount support 170 may have toptab 172 above bed frame 174 and adapted to attach to wall 22. stack-ablesupport may further comprise an upper support 176 and lower support 178.Upper support 176 bears against lower support 178. Upper support 176 mayhave foot 194 adapted to engage stacking surface 180 on lower support178. each of upper support 176 and lower support 178 may have wallsurface 182 on top tab 172 and bed surface 174 adapted to engage moldedbed 12 and support arch 186 along outside of support panel 188. Supportpanel 188 is adapted to hold wall surface 192 and bed surface 174 in agenerally perpendicular orientation. Arch 190 may extend along wall 22.spacer 192 may be used between foot 194 and stacking surface 180. Bedretainer 190 may be formed on upper support 176 or lower support 178.Bed retainer 190 is disposed on upper support 176 to prevent bed body 12from inadvertently falling. Bed retainer 190 may extend the entireperimeter of the wall mounted bed frame 16 thereby preventing a ligaturehold on the wall mounted bed 10.

Referring to FIGS. 20-24 molded bed body 12 may be rotationally moldedas a hollow shell 212 having top 214, first end 216, second end 217front 225 and back 227. Drainage holes 202 are formed to providevertical wall support between top 14 and bed bottom 204. Frame members74 may be disposed in hollow bed body 12. Frame members may have aconnection end 220 adapted to attach to frame 15 (FIGS. 1 and 5) atframe attachment 222. Bed frame members 74 may extend between first andsecond ends 216, 217 and/or between front 225 and back 227 of bed body12.

Referring to FIG. 25, bed body 312 may be formed using vacuum molding,blow molding or similar sheet forming method known in the art to createa hollow bed shell 314 having an open side 316. Steel frame 326 may beassembled by welding or similar method known in the art to providestructural support to hollow bed body 312. Steel frame 326 may beadapted to be inserted into shell 314 at open side 316. Steel frame 326may comprise longitudinal supports 328, vertical supports 332 andhorizontal supports 334. Steel frame 326 is adapted to attach to bedframe 16. Cover 340 may be adapted to close open side 316 by beingdisposed on shell 314 and attached by adhesive, welding or Very HighBonding Tape or other method for connecting.

Referring to FIG. 26 bed body 412 may be formed of Polyethylene orPolypropylene foam having structural supports 74 integrated therein. Thestructural supports 74 adapted to attach to bed frame 16.

Although the description above contains many specifications, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but asmerely providing illustrations of some of the embodiments of thisinvention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by theappended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examplesgiven. Further, the present invention has been shown and described withreference to the foregoing exemplary embodiments. It is to beunderstood, however, that other forms, details, and embodiments may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention whichis defined in the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A ligature proof wall mounted bed adapted to attach to awall comprising: a bed frame attached to the wall, the bed framecomprising a first support on the wall, the first support comprising asloping support wall; a hollow bed body on the bed frame, the hollow bedbody having a first end and a second end, attached to the bed frame. 2.The ligature proof wall mounted bed of claim 1, further comprising amolded cover on the sloping wall.
 3. The ligature proof wall mounted bedof claim 1, wherein the bed body further comprises a first end support,the first end support attached to the wall plate, the first end on thefirst end support.
 4. The ligature proof wall mounted bed of claim 1,wherein the sloping wall extends above the wall plate.
 5. The ligatureproof wall mounted bed of claim 1, wherein the sloping support wallextends below the wall plate.
 6. The ligature proof wall mounted bed ofclaim 1, wherein the sloping support wall further comprises a horizontaledge, the horizontal surface attached to the bed body.
 7. The ligatureproof wall mounted bed of claim 3, further comprising a first bedsupport member, the first bed support member disposed in the hollow bedbody, the first bed support member on the frame.
 8. The ligature proofwall mounted bed of claim 4, further comprising a second bed support inthe hollow bed body, the second bed support generally parallel to thefirst bed support wherein the sloping wall further comprise an arcuateedge.
 9. The ligature proof wall mounted bed of claim 1, wherein the bedbody is molded with an integral steel support member, the steel supportmember attached to the wall plate.
 10. The ligature proof wall mountedbed of claim 7, wherein the bed body is molded with the first supportmember, the bed support member attached to the first end support.
 11. Aligature proof wall mounted bed attached to a wall, The wall mounted bedcomprising: a bed body, the bed body having a support member, a firstend, a bottom and a bed top, the support member disposed in the bed bodybetween the bottom and the top; a wall plate, the wall plate having atop tab and a fastener hole; and a first end support on the wall plate,the first end support extending generally perpendicular to the wallplate, the first end support having a wall plate side, a support top, abottom, an inside and a front end, the wall plate side on the wallplate, the inside on the first end, the support top adjacent to the bedtop.
 12. The ligature proof wall mounted bed of claim 11, wherein thesteel support member has a first end, the steel support member first endis attached to the first end support.
 13. The ligature proof wallmounted bed of claim 12, further comprising a second wall adjacent thewall mounted bed and a second end on the steel support member, thesecond end attached to the second wall. molded with an integral steelsupport member, the steel support member attached to the wall plate.